Our Region

The Hunter, Central and Lower North Coast region extends from above Taree in the north to the Hawkesbury River in the south, and from the Pacific Ocean to inland of Casilis in the west. In total, the region covers an area of 39,021 square kilometres. Elevation varies throughout the region, with the highest point at Brumlow Top (1,586 metres) on the Barrington Tops and the lowest at sea level on the coast.

The region has a population of around 1 million people, with over half of these living in coastal towns and cities including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Gosford, Wyong, and Forster. Numerous other towns and cities are also located across the region including the major centres of Taree, Maitland, Cessnock, Muswellbrook and Scone. Significant levels of population growth are occurring in the region and are expected to continue in the coming decades. 

Fourteen local government areas comprise the region. These include: 

Climate and Geography

Climate
Research into the region's climate and climate variability has identified three distinct climate zones - coastal, central and western. Identification of these climate zones is underpinned by a detailed historical analysis of key climate variables including rainfall and average minimum and maximum temperature across all seasons. 

 

Rainfall
Rainfall distribution varies within the region and is influenced by terrain and the ocean. A regular decrease in precipitation is evident from along the coast in the east, to west. The highest annual rainfall is recorded in the Bulga and Comboyne Plateau area in the north east of the region, averaging over 1,900mm per annum. In contrast, the western most area of the region, south west of Muswellbrook, receives an average of 630mm per annum. The majority of the region's rainfall occurs in the summer and autumn seasons.


Temperature
The mean annual maximum temperature for the region is 23.2^oC and shows relatively little variation across the region. Mean annual maximum temperatures range from 23.5^oC in the north, to 17.5^oC at the most southerly extent. Average annual maximum temperatures above 24.5^oC are recorded in the north (Taree) and central (Singleton) parts of the region. Annual maximum temperature variations show a general latitudinal  decrease in temperatures from north to south.

Annual mean minimum temperatures are significantly different to that of maximum temperatures. Annual mean mimimum temperatures are highest along the coast, showing a gradual decrease to the west of the region. The region as a whole has an average annual minimum temperature of 11^oC. The coastal area of the region averages 12.5^oC, decreasing to 10.5^oC through the central areas to lows of 9^oC in the far west.  

Natural Environment
The region has very diverse landforms and climates. These include moist, warm, coastal lowlands; semi arid inland areas; and reasonably high altitude montane areas. This diversity of landforms and habitats has resulted in a high diversity of plant species and vegetation communities within the region. These include sub-tropical rainforest, warm-temperate rainforest, dry rainforest, mangrove forest, open forest and woodland, heath, grassland, sedgeland, and wetland. A number of studies have confirmed areas of particularly high levels of species diversity and endemism within the region. 

The region contains a number of significant protected areas including the world heritage listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (Barrington Tops National Park) and Greater Blue Mountains Area (Wollemi and Yengo National Parks). 

The region is dominated by significant river and estuarine systems that contribute significantly to the natural and environmental attributes of the region. These include the Hunter and Manning Rivers, and Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah Lakes, Port Stephens, Wallis Lakes, Myall Lakes and Brisbane Waters estuaries. Combined, the region's estuaries cover a combined surface area of 74,158 hectares. 

Key features of these estuarine systems include:

• The Hunter River and Myall Lakes estuaries contain internationally recognised Ramsar wetlands;
• Combined, they contain the largest area of mangrove in NSW, significant areas of the State's remaining saltmarsh, and extensive seagrass beds; and
• They provide important habitat for migratory waders and commercially important species of fish, and provide habitat for several threatened species including birds, reptiles and mammals. 

The region is also significant in that the Hunter Valley represents the only major break in the north-south continuity of the Great Dividing Range, therefore providing a link between coastal areas and the arid inland. 

Industry & Economy
The region is growing economically, with new residential areas being developed to accommodate significant population growth, commercial and industrial activity. Urban growth and associated housing and infrastructure development is a significant economic driver in the region. This is particularly evident in the Central Coast and Lower Hunter parts of the region. 

Major industry sectors that operate across the region include manufacturing, mining, agriculture, power generation, tourism, health, education, and defence and aerospace industries. 

Coal mining represents the most substantial economic activity in the region, with the Port of Newcastle (the largest coal export facility in the world) exporting approximately 97 million tonnes per annum, with this forecast to double by 2013.

The region is also a major tourism destination in NSW, and is the sixth most visted place in Australia, attracting over 2.5 million people annually. Key tourism drawcards include extensive beaches and estuaries, the Hunter Valley vineyards, events based tourism and signifcant natural areas.

Agriculture provides over $1 billion annually to the region. Key agricultural industries operating in the region include dairying, viticulture and wine making, horse breeding, poultry, horticulture, grazing (sheep and beef) and cropping.




 

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